Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA –Georgia residents can now receive vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, without a doctor’s prescription under  expanded access announced this week by state legislators.  State Representatives David Wilkerson (D-Powder Springs), Marvin Lim (D-Norcross), Karen Lupton (D-Chamblee) and Lisa Campbell (D-Kennesaw) issued the following joint statement regarding the access now available to Georgia residents.  “Every Georgian deserves access to life-saving vaccines without unnecessary barriers,” the lawmakers stated. “Our constituents deserve transparency when seeking access to healthcare, particularly following recent decisions by the federal government. This is about keeping our families healthy, our communities strong and ensuring that public health decisions are driven…

ATLANTA–U.S. Marshals with special assistance from Atlanta Police Department (APD) Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team arrested Derrick Groves today (Oct. 8) in Atlanta, GA.  Derrick Groves was wanted for Aggravated Escape out of Orleans Parish, Louisiana, stemming from a high-profile escape where 10 inmates all escaped from a New Orleans Jail on May 16, 2025. Derrick Groves was convicted of Second-Degree Murder in New Orleans and by escaping, failed to appear for sentencing which carries the possibility of life in prison. Groves was the last remaining escapee on the run.  The U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERFTF)…

CONYERS, GA– Foster families gathered this past Saturday, Oct. 4, at Elks Aidmore in Conyers for al training session led by national-recognized foster care expert, John DeGarmo, PhD. The event brought local foster parents together for an in-depth discussion on the emotional challenges of caregiving, including secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and ways to strengthen support systems for foster families. “The impact of a child’s trauma can take a significant emotional toll on caregivers,” said Dr. DeGarmo, founder and director of the Foster Care Institute. “Our goal is to make sure that foster families here in Conyers have the support and…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Gwinnett County Police detectives are investigating a domestic shooting that left one man and one woman deceased on Wednesday, Oct. 8.   Around 9:41 a.m., officers from the Central Precinct responded to a person shot call in the 600 block of Clearwater Place in Lawrenceville.  When officers arrived, they located a female and male deceased in a bedroom.   Authorities said they believe the two were deceased from a gunshot wound and that the shooting is domestic-related.  A firearm was also located at the scene. Police said the two knew each other, though their exact relationship is still being…

DECATUR, GA— DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) is reminding voters about upcoming early voting details, drop box locations, and other key dates related to the Nov. 4 Municipal General/Special Election.  Key Dates: DeKalb voters are encouraged to make note of the following dates.  Now – Request an absentee ballot for the November election October 6 – Voter registration deadline October 14 through October 31 – Early voting period October 24 – Last day to request an absentee ballot November 4 – Election Day Early Voting Locations: The DeKalb BRE approved 10 early voting locations across the county, including five…

ATLANTA–For the Robey family, MARTA is more than a transit system. It is the way through which they live, work, and play, MARTA shares in its October edition of “Behind the Ride,” an ongoing series highlighting the people and moments that define MARTA. Since the Robeys do not own a car, the mother and son rely on buses, trains, and bikes to get to school, work, the grocery store, and to soccer.  The family’s access has been made even easier through MARTA’s partnership with Soccer in the Streets™, whose StationSoccer initiative brings youth soccer fields directly to MARTA stations across…

ATLANTA—The Senate Study Committee on Making Georgia the No. 1 State for Tourism, chaired by Sen. Drew Echols (R–Alto), will hold its third hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 9 a.m.  The meeting will be held at the Rainwater Convention Center, 1 Meeting Place, Valdosta, GA. Lawmakers, tourism leaders, and local stakeholders will discuss strategies to bolster Georgia’s tourism industry and economic impact across the state.  The hearing is open the public and will be live-streamed on the Georgia General Assembly website here.  The Senate Study Committee on Making Georgia the No. 1 State for Tourism was created through Senate Resolution 323.…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – A 25-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a double murder—a brother and sister—who were shot to death on Monday evening at the East Perimeter Pointe Apartments in Decatur. The DeKalb County Police Department said that Steven Christopher Mathis was arrested and taken into custody around midnight by the Henry County Police Department and later transported to the DeKalb County Jail.  Officers had responded to the scene of the incident on Monday, Oct. 6, at 7:45 p.m.  and found an adult male and an adult female inside an apartment had been shot a, both deceased.  The DeKalb Medical…